Price: $2/ounce $9/pound

Indian grass is a perennial bunchgrass native to the United State. It is known as a warm season grass and will start growing in May, and go to seed in July and August. It has yellow spikelets (seed heads) that have white hairs, which make it look silver and gold in the sunlight. The grass has long, flat, and narrow leaves that usually are called blades. The blades are 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide, 5 to 12 inches long, and pointed at the end. They have a rough texture to them. They become yellowish bronze in the fall and becomes dormant in the winter. It has glossy seed heads.

The grass grows on the prairies in North America, but can grow as far north as southern Manitoba, Canada and as far south as Texas. It can extend west to about the 100th meridian and can now also be found in Europe, Asia and Africa. It grows best where it is moist.

Indian grass is used for grazing animals and for meadows on farms. It is very tasty for animals when it is young, but not too good after it has gone to seed. It is also used as ornamental grass in gardens or as border grass.

by Hilary W. 2000